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Americans in the Great War
Sgt York and the Doughboys
4 days / 3 nights
In 1918, the 'Doughboys' of the USA joined the European fray of the First World War. Have you ever wondered where they went, ‘over there’? Although the American Expeditionary Forces saw only 150 days of combat, the United States made a significant contribution to the Allied victory.
Follow the route of the American Expeditionary Forces in France as you explore the regions of the greatest American contribution. Names such as Belleau Wood, Chateau Thierry, Vaux, Saint-Milhiel and the region of Meuse-Argonne, previously fought over by the French and British Empires, were soon to become synonymous with American sacrifice, honor and bravery as the German Armies were turned back. In the same region lay the ultimate war zone in this “war to end wars,” Verdun.
Our unique tour itinerary follows the line, exploring American battlefields and seeing the magnificent commemorative places built in memory of the sacrifice. The scars of war, even 90 years on, are remarkable and surely something you will never forget.
Available at any date for private groups of 2 – 15 people. Price available upon application. Rates are based upon vehicle and guide hire per day; groups of 7 - 15 would have a per person rate same/similar to one of our scheduled tours of the same length.
If you do not have a group of traveling companions and are still interested in this custom tour itinerary, you are welcomed to join a waitlist…
We record who is looking for travel companions to make up a tour with them. We need between 6 and 8 persons minimum to operate a tour without it being uneconomic for us or too expensive for you. We will be happy to run the occasional special departure IF there is sufficient interest.
If you would like to check on or join a waitlist for this itinerary, please email us for full information: specialgrouptours@yahoo.com
This tour begins and ends in Paris; you will be picked up from your hotel at approximately 09:00.
Have ample time to travel? We also offer an 11-day American Forces tour incorporating the US involvement in both World Wars. This tour visits Normandy, Bellau Wood, Meuse-Argonne, the Ardennes and the Battle of the Bulge and Operation Market Garden in Belgium and Holland.
TENTATIVE ITINERARY
DAY ONE
Immediately south of Paris is Coulonges-Cohan, where we'll find Quentin Rooosevelt's crash site and memorial. Next, to Fere-en-Tardenois. This village was much fought over. For a month in September 1914 it was the British HQ, then a French army center. During German occupation in 1918 the Kaiser reviewed troops here and finally in 1918 it became General 'Black Jack' Pershing's HQ. We'll see surviving the buildings.
Nearby, we’ll pay our respects in the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery, where over 2000 lie buried, not far from the place they fell in battle.
Chateau-Theirry, First Battle of the Marne and first American offensive will also be explored. Nearby is the Hill 204 magnificent memorial. Belleau Wood is another major US battlefield covered with many interesting American memorials, including those to the US 26th Division and US Marines. Here, we can explore trenches, shell holes and relics in and around Belleau Wood itself and the local villages where the boys fought gallantly from May – October, 1918.
ACCOMMODATION: Epernay
DAY TWO
It is in the regions of the Muese and the Argonne Forest, along with Chateau Theirry, of the greatest American contribution to the war in 1918. Our highlight today will be the sites associated with perhaps the most famous American Great War veteran, Sgt York. Our day will include his monument at Chatel Chehery.
Also today, Crown Prince Wilhelm's forest bunker, Varene-en-Argonne with the Pennsylvania State memorial and the Musee d'Argonne with the museum of mine warfare, with its relics of American activity including personalities who fought there, such as Harry S Truman.
At the Butte de Vauquois you'll see a site that probably defines more than any other along the entire Western front the sheer destructiveness of the war. The village of Vauquois sat atop this 290 metre hill. Now, not only is there no sign of the village but the entire hill is hollowed out as a result of mining and bombing. Restored French and German tunnels and trenches can be visited.
Also in the area, we can see the Memorial to the US 35th Division and men of Missouri, hear about 'The Lost Battalion,' and visit the Memorial Chapel of the 315th Infantry Division plus the American Memorial at the Butte de Montfaucon, where after two days of bitter fighting, the hill was taken at the cost of many lives.
Finally, on our approach to Verdun, we'll see the Mort Homme with its famed inscription 'They Have Not Passed'.
ACCOMMODATION: Verdun
DAY THREE
Verdun is considered the most sacred of battlefields in France. Although not associated with the American sector, we will be visiting several major sites in Verdun, where the gates to the city where said to have been the inspiration for the insignia of the US Corps of Engineers.
We start the day by visiting the deserted but mostly intact Fort Tavannes, then we will move on to Fort Vaux, where the defenders held out for a month against all odds and in hellish conditions and we stop at the museum at Fleury. Later, we tour Fort Douaumont, the keystone of the Verdun defences which we explore inside and out. Visits to the tragic and moving Tranche de Bayonettes, the French National cemetery and Ossuary, with its views over the battlefield, and Driant's command post in the Bois de Caures complete our amazing day.
Tonight, enjoy an evening in the attractive town of Verdun itself.
ACCOMMODATION: Verdun
DAY FOUR
Today, the St Mihiel Salient, where the Americans fought independently for the first time. Here, in September 1918, the US First Army captured over 200 square miles of enemy-held territory. We can view the Montsec US Memorial, the monument erected by the French at Bathelemont to commemorate the first three American soldiers killed in action. We then can spend some time in the Bois d'Ailly where hidden in the woods is an extensive trench system, with many bunkers and shelters before making our way back into Paris.
Please note: All attraction opening times are correct at time of printing this website. While we will do our utmost to include all of the properties mentioned as central visits, we reserve the right to change an attraction should it become impossible to deliver a planned visit due to changes in opening days or times that we could not have been aware of at the time of loading this tour to our website.
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